I'm very happy to report that at last it is once again raining! Those record temperatures in the 70Fs and even up to 80F in some spots were just not agreeing with me (or a lot of my plants) So, with great relief we set out on an excursion.
This proved to be an exciting adventure into the cloud-swathed forests of San Mateo County! First there was brief stroll through the damp Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) forests of Purisima Creek Redwoods. This lovely patch of coastal forest is also home to some very large and shapely tanoaks (Lithocarpus densiflorus) and some beautiful madrones (Arbutus menziesii). There were also many gorgeous mosses, lichens and ferns! Then we made our way south to Yerba Buena Nursery. This was another lichen-draped spot of coastal forest and native plant excitement. And best of all the newts (Taricha torosa) were on the move! With great determination the little amphibians made their way about, tails moving with rain-fueled energy. There was also a banana slug! This one was a bit yellower than the one we had just seen at Purisima Creek. Anyway I procured a Trichostema lanatum - the fragrant and ever wonderful Wooly Blue-Curls - after we had browsed the plants and garden. After this there was only time for lunch in Half Moon Bay and a trip homeward. But the part of this trip that I've yet to mention is the extremely thick, dense cloud that was sitting right on top of highway 35 between highways 92 and 84 for the duration of this trip. The visibility in some spots was down to a few yards of the centerline. I'm amazed that we saw the turns for the nursery, park, or the coast. This foggy dampness was nice for walking around in, but not so great for driving. But we did make it. In other plant news - I recently obtained a very promising looking Western Azalea. It's the one called "Irene Koster" and appears to have three big fat flower buds! And my first Nemophila of the season bloomed! It's the picture with blue flower. The other pictures are Purisima Creek and a Nursery Newt!
2 comments:
Um, I hope that lizardy thing in the first picture is still in San Mateo County! Nice pictures!
Actually this county is also full of them. That's why they close South Park Drive in Berkeley during the rainy season! And remember, they're amphibian - lizards have scales, newts don't (there are many more differences but I suspect lack of interest on your part).
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